Ship Happens.
The catchphrase was born after Will Shipley hurdled a Louisville defender and busted through two more for a touchdown run that has become a highlight reel fixture.
Shipley proved invaluable to his team last season with his exceptional performance on the field. He demonstrated his prowess as a running back, rushing for an impressive 1,182 yards on 210 carries. It is worth noting that only three players in the FBS achieved more yards than him on fewer carries.
In addition to his incredible rushing abilities, Shipley made significant contributions to the game through his receptions and kickoff returns, resulting in a remarkable total of 261 touches.
His versatile play earned him a well-deserved spot as a finalist for the prestigious Paul Hornung Award, an honor bestowed upon the most versatile player in the nation.
“Shipley, he can do it all,” Swinney said. “I never took Spiller off kick return and all that. It’s just another touch. It’s no different than handing him the ball on an inside zone. In fact, you’ve got more room to run on a kickoff return than anywhere out there.
But with extraordinary talents comes significant responsibilities.
Swinney is open about using Shipley in various situations, similar to how he used former Clemson running back CJ Spiller. Shipley will return kicks, punts, catch passes, and of course, run out of the backfield. We might even see him throw a pass. He has quickly become one of the best players in the country.
The question is can Shipley handle the load for another season?